Ruïne met boerderij 1829 - 1844

Barend Cornelis Koekkoek made this artwork, Ruïne met boerderij, using pen and brush with gray ink on paper. The artist carefully observed the characteristics of each material, using the fineness of the pen to highlight precise details, like those of the building, and the broadness of the brush for shadow, light, and shade. Koekkoek was part of the Romantic movement, where the labor of human hands and the connection to the natural world held deep meaning. The marks, textures and forms reveal the artist's skill and the time involved in the production process. But we can also appreciate the social context of the artwork; the rise of Romanticism, and changing attitudes towards labor and consumption. Looking closely at the pen and brushstrokes, and considering the meaning of decay and the monumentality of nature, allows us to consider the skill of the artist and the cultural values embedded in the artwork.